November President's Desk Newsletter

LCCC Awarded $2.17 Million U.S. Department of Labor PATHWAYS Grant to Update Labs, Trades, and Funding

Students wearing protective safety gear working on electrical equipment wiring and training modules in a technical lab.

Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) has been awarded a $2,171,960 grant over five years from the U.S. Department of Labor to launch its new PATHWAYS initiative. The project focuses on expanding skilled trade programs, modernizing science and tech labs, and boosting fundraising to support the college long-term. Funding will be front-loaded in Year 1 to launch projects immediately, under the direction of a new Project Coordinator.

The initiative creates flexible workforce-to-degree tracks that allow noncredit students to earn industry credentials one course at a time before deciding to enter the job market or transition into full- or part-time degree programs. Faculty stipends will support the development of these new pathways with a focused emphasis on the electrical trades and biotechnology, complemented by hands-on work-based learning experiences. To ensure students navigate these opportunities smoothly, a dedicated Career Pathways Navigator will assist noncredit students with their matriculation into credit-bearing programs.

On-campus facilities will also see significant physical upgrades, starting with $207,775 dedicated to converting a classroom into a fully equipped Electrical Training Laboratory outfitted with new instructional technology, renovation work, and training gear. Additionally, $340,000 in supplemental funding will go toward the buildout of the college’s biotechnology wing to cover ongoing construction and specialized laboratory equipment.

To ensure long-term institutional growth beyond the initial grant period, LCCC is expanding its fundraising capacity through two key personnel additions. A new Director of Development will focus on building relationships with individual and corporate donors, while a dedicated Grant Writer will actively pursue local, state, federal, and private grants to fund future projects across the campus.

LCCC Creates Student Leadership Development Opportunities

A group of LCCC student leaders and advisors posing together indoors during a campus leadership event.

Students at Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) have the unique opportunity to develop themselves as leaders through a variety of extracurricular, club, and career development activities and programming. The Office of College Relations and Student Life ensures all students who want to grow their workforce-readiness skills, whether through the Student Government Association (SGA), the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, or the Cougar Leadership and Governance (CLG) program, can do so on their terms.

Students participating in the newly developed CLG program had the opportunity to welcome Dr. Brenden Rickards, LCCC’s Middle States Commission on Higher Education Site Evaluator, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, for an in-depth exploration of the college’s reaccreditation journey and to hear from students about their educational experiences. The CLG program is a highly selective initiative that allows students to serve in leadership positions in campus clubs and honor societies, serve on college committees, and participate in rigorous leadership development workshops.

LCCC’s chapter of PTK attended the Middle-States Regional Convention on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Delaware Technical Community College, where they were awarded several awards of distinction:

Honors in Action Project Award
Honors in Action Topic Distinction Award
Paragon Award for New Advisors (awarded to Daniel Melin, Director of Student Life)

The chapter also received recognition as a 2025 5-Star Chapter of Excellence, a standard by which PTK International recognizes chapters that have gone above and beyond in achieving both Honors in Action and College Projects, participating in regional networking events, and making significant efforts toward student professional development, among other achievements.

Additionally, the LCCC SGA attended the 2026 American Student Government Association National Summit in Washington, D.C., earlier this month, where they networked with SGAs from across the nation, participated in leadership development workshops, and explored the educational opportunities in our country’s capital. They will use what they learned during the three-day conference to improve campus life and more effectively advocate for students' needs.

For more information regarding student leadership opportunities at LCCC, contact Daniel Melin, Director of Student Life, at dmelin@lccc.edu or 610-799-1146.

Prospective Students Invited to LCCC Fall 2026 Open House on Nov. 4

Prospective students and their families are invited to Lehigh Carbon Community College’s fall open house on Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the Community Services Center on the college’s main campus in Schnecksville. The open house will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.

Admissions and financial aid representatives, academic advisors as well as faculty program coordinators will be on hand to answer questions. The open house is an excellent opportunity for prospective students of all ages to learn about degree and career programs, tour the campus, learn about scholarship opportunities and how LCCC can pave the way for an exciting and rewarding career, or transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. Families are encouraged to attend with their prospective student.

Meet with faculty coordinators about degrees and career pathways that interest you.
Learn about the LCCC admissions process, advising, transfer options, placement testing, and more.
Attend presentations on financial aid, scholarships, and the Honors program.
Learn about classes and campus life.
Take a campus tour

Interested students should register at the LCCC open house website or contact the LCCC Admissions Office at 610-799-1575 or admissions@lccc.edu.

Advisors sitting across a table from a prospective student and family, discussing college materials during an open house event.

LCCC Hosts Fall 2026 Career Fair at Main Campus Nov. 12

Students and job candidates networking with company representatives at employer tables inside a busy career fair hall.

The Lehigh Carbon Community College Career Development Center will host its Fall 2026 Career Fair on Thursday, November 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Schnecksville campus in the Community Services Center in the CSC Ballroom.

We welcome all to join us at this free public event that will provide students, alumni and community members the opportunities to network and apply for various open positions with more than 80 registered employers. The job fair helps to bridge the gap between employers and prospective applicants. It is recommended that job seekers bring multiple copies of their resume, dress for success and be prepared to network.

It’s not too late for employers to register and reserve a table:

How to Register and Reserve a Table: Employers must register online through the college’s platform

For questions regarding booth options, sponsorship details, logistics, or general event information, contact the LCCC Career Development Center at 610-799-1090 or careerservices@lccc.edu.

Development Day 2026

LCCC faculty and staff gathered at round tables in the CSC Ballroom listening to a keynote presentation during Development Day.

On Tuesday, October 13, Lehigh Carbon Community College brought faculty and staff together in the CSC Ballroom on the Schnecksville campus for Development Day. With no classes and college operations paused for the morning session, employees from across all campus sites assembled in person to connect and align on key college priorities.

The program opened after morning refreshments with a welcome by Dr. Ann Bieber and an insightful overview of Middle States Education led by the tri-chairs. Attendees then heard from guest speaker Dana Evans Amberge of Paskill, who delivered a keynote focused on the impact of LCCC’s vision, mission, and values on recruitment. The morning concluded on an energetic note with interactive team-building activities hosted by the Spirit Committee. The campus community left feeling energized and well-prepared for the upcoming Middle States Higher Education team chair preliminary visit on October 20 with Dr. Brenden Rickards.

LCCC Hosted Fall 2026 Transfer Fair on October 6

Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) hosted its annual Fall 2026 Transfer Fair on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Community Services Center at the Main Campus in Schnecksville.

The event was free and open to LCCC students, alumni, and members of the general public interested in pursuing a four-year degree. Representatives from over 60 colleges and universities were on site to answer questions regarding degree programs, credit transfers, admissions requirements, and financial aid.

The Transfer Fair offered prospective transfer students a centralized venue to explore seamless academic pathways from LCCC’s associate degree programs toward a bachelor’s degree. For additional information regarding the Fall 2026 Transfer Fair, visit the Lehigh Carbon Community College website.